Two Day of the Dead festivals scheduled for downtown Saturday

Two festivals being held on Saturday are turning downtown Victoria into one giant celebration of the dearly departed.

First is the Victoria Regional Museum Association's Dia de los Muertos Exhibit and Festival from noon-4 p.m. at the Nave Museum and on the grounds and street around the museum. Featuring artistic altars called ofrendas, the exhibit includes altars from 20 local artists as well as a "Tree of Life" made by children participating in the Manhattan Art Program, according to a news release. In addition, the free event will also have live music, arts and crafts areas for kids, food and beverage vendors, ballet folklorico dancers and other activities.

Once you check out the Nave Museum block party, you can then slide on over to One O'Connor Plaza to check out another Dia de los Muertos festival, which lasts from noon-9 p.m. Saturday. Organized by Beth Vianes, the free community event will feature altars and shrines made by community members, as well as music performances by DJ Cheaptimes, the Loveletter, Electric Seance, MTBA and Slander Bob from KAOS radio, according to Vianes. There will also be food vendors, zumba dancing, a kid's corner featuring games and crafts, face painting, artwork and spirits, she added.

After the festival, a costume after party called "Baile de los Muertos" will be held at Downtown Bar and Grill from 9 p.m.-2 a.m.

"It's going to be an awesome day. We have so much planned and the response we've gotten from the community is tremendous," Vianes said about the first-time event. "It takes a lot of people working together to pull something like this off. My hope is that people come out and enjoy themselves."

Vianes added that she hopes to make this an annual event.

"Larger cities do things like this all the time, so I hope Victoria grasps onto this and makes it a success so we can do it again," she said.

Space is still available for anyone who wants to make an altar for the event. Contact Vianes at bvianes@yahoo.com for more information.